My knowledge of  butterflies is minimal, but this one landing on a wildflower did have a nice little face and wonderful eyes.    This wasn’t far from a section of the San Gabriel River.    I stopped for the flowers.   The butterfly was an added gift.

This continues  my little collection featuring barns.   I’ve passed this barn for years, seldom taking the time to photograph it.   The light  wasn’t right.   But on this late-afternoon it just glistened.    A tighter version was made, but the yellow wildflowers in the foreground led to this frame.   Some friends in the area will know this barn.   I hope it remains for years to come.  

Occasionally I’ll offer up  photographs taken during daily walks.   Most of these outings are in Taylor, with occasional strolls in Georgetown.  This set are all from Taylor.  When having cataract procedures in recent years, my doctor strongly suggested not toting the heavier cameras for a few weeks.  The solution was to buy a used Olympus mirrorless camera and two lenses.   The little camera was so much fun (and light!) that I began bringing it on daily walks.   Over five decades ago I was taught to always have a camera available.   This cheap used camera isn’t perfect, but it provides the equivalent of a  300mm  focal length, weighing little more than your iPhone.   Enough said about that.   Take a look at these snapshots from recent walks.  Since the walks are exercise, very little time is spent on any subject.   Just some snapshots, friends, mostly botanical. 

Only this one tonight, my friends.  A few minutes past sunset on a cloudy evening, I stopped to admire a windmill resting under a layer of thick clouds adorned with blue light.  An owl suddenly appeared, but soon left when seeing an intruder (me).    I was glad for our brief visit.

Three  recent photographs taken near or after a Blackland Prairie sunset.   Just clearing things off my desktop before forgetting they’re there. Sometimes they’re tossed into the trash bin.   I’ll hold onto these. 

Many wildflower posts find their way to my social media accounts this time of year.   I love all of them, but try to scale back on too many myself.   A place I like very much, no matter the season, is Georgetown’s Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery & Prayer Gardens.   Offered tonight are a few things observed this week during a late-afternoon visit.   “Weeds” is a word often infused with negative meanings, but most wildflowers, including our state flower, are weeds.   In this part of Texas the bluebonnets are still here, but overshadowed by other flowers.    All of them have merit.   The last photo isn’t a wildflower at all, just a simple leaf nestled next to a tree.   By the time I clicked the shutter for this one the light had lessened, but was sufficient to add a dappling before tucking in for the night.

This morning I noticed light falling on some vibrant leaves in our bathroom window.   Not knowing botanical things, I asked my wife what they were.  “Basil!”   Live and learn.

Not much to say for these photos taken this evening, from Thrall to Beyersville.  Just good skies and elegant light.

Several years ago I took numerous photos of this barn in Jonah.   When deciding to offer a series of photos of favorite barns this was high on my list of candidates.  In January I spent a little time there, but wasn’t getting a good result.  Recently, however, this vintage barn began looking quite nice.    I stopped by the owner’s house to comment.   It turns out he’d noticed some old boards in rough shape, deciding to replace them, then following up with a fresh coating of red paint.   It really looks great now!   Nearby, close to 300 acres is for sale, but I think this barn’s owner plans to keep it around for a while.   I sure hope so.   This frame was taken at day’s end last evening.

Every crop has value, but the flow of wheat on the Blackland Prairie is just majestic.  From early Wednesday evening.